The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-06
GENERAL BLACK ON THE RAMPAGE.
Discharging Forty-Eight Indianians at One
Fell Stroke-What Next?

Fell Stroke-What Next?
Washington Special to New York Tribune.
The physical wreck" at the head of the Pen
sion Office, called otherwise John G. Black,
may be incapable of any effort when he wants
to secure for himself pension greater than that
paid TO any other soldier but he is a mighty
lively wreck" when he has an opportunity to
vent his malignant hatred of Republicans upon
those unfortunate enough to be placed under his
official charge. For some time now General
Black has assiduously devoted his time, not 70
improving the discipline and efficiency of his
bureau which needs both sadly, but to wedding
out Republicans. In this congenial task the
manned and crippled soldier seems to have been
the especial object of the commissioners "pern-
cious activity" They were the first to be
singled out as his victims. 1t would be weary
task to follow the catalogue which makes up the
record of discharges in the Pension Bureau for
the last year. l will confne myself to few
conspicuous examples only, which occurred
within the last week or two. and which fear of
instant dismissal alone has until now prevented
the colleagues of the unfortunate men still re-
manning in Office from making generally known.
1t is thing worthy of note that General Black,
whenever possible fills the vacancy created
through the dismissal of Union soldier by the
appointment of an exrebel. 1t seems to give
him pleasure. 1t is like adding so mucn insult
TO injury. thus ne discharged the other day
Mr.. Curtis, as brave soldier ever shouldered
muskeu in defense of the Union. MIR. Curtis had
upon his body the scars of four bullets. One Of
these passed through his lungs and left him a
consumptive. Upon his wages earned In the
Pension Bureau depended large family. But
all this went for nothing in the eyes OF the
physical wreck" Mr. Curtis perhaps not
wreck enough Even the remonstrance of the
commander of Lincoln Post. No. s. of which
Curtis was a member, awaited nothing. General
Black refused TO interfere suspend his per
nicous activity" in the case, saying that the
pressure for places from all sides was too
great. He couldn't withstand it. The place of
Curtis, the wounded veteran. filled by an
able bodied and presumably "unroconstructed
REBEL McCandlish by name.
John Richmond, onelegged soldier.
dismissed last week. There charges
against him. He was not even considered
Offensive partisan" but his place was wanted.
and / suppose that by this this time rebel who
prates about having returned to his father S
house and come to stay" fills 1t. The pay of n
one-armed soldier Cress by name, was reduced
S4O0 at about the same time, and the salary of
another one-armed soldier. whose name | am
not at liberty to give tor the present, cut down
from 81. 600 10 81 200
1t Is this singing out of loyal Union soldiers
his victims which makes General Blacks
Official conduct despicaole and stamps him
when he goes about the country telling confding
army posts OF his love for the soldier as the
monumental humbug Of the administration.
But he achieved the pinnacle of his fame as an
active wreck yesterday when he discharged
by one stroke of his pen. without a mo-
ments warning, forty-eght clerks most
Of them veterans. and ALL it is said, from
Indiana What made so drastic a move